Federal Judge Dismisses Defamation Suit Against Fox News by Former Trump Supporter
A federal judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by Raymond Epps against Fox News. Epps, a former supporter of President Trump and a member of the Oath Keepers, claimed that Fox News broadcast false conspiracy theories about his involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. These claims led to death threats against him, forcing him and his wife to sell their Arizona ranch and live in a recreational vehicle. The lawsuit accused Fox News of falsely portraying Epps as a government operative inciting violence to discredit Trump supporters. The judge ruled that Epps failed to provide sufficient evidence that Fox News knowingly aired false information with 'actual malice,' a necessary legal standard for defamation cases. This decision marks the second time the court has dismissed Epps' claims, despite allowing him to revise and refile his lawsuit.